Following the protests by a number of Arab citizens in Khuzestan against the 'neglect' of Iranians of Arab descent in a television program, the interim Friday prayer leader of Ahvaz urged the protesters to be 'vigilant against the enemy's plots and sedition.' According to the IRNA news agency, in his sermon on April 10, Abolhasan Hassan Zadeh stated that 'although the Arab people of Khuzestan had the right to be upset about this issue, they should remain vigilant against the enemy's plots and sedition.' He announced that the incident on state television was 'unintentional.' A segment of a program called 'Kolah Ghermezi,' aired on April 2, sparked protests among Arab citizens in Khuzestan. In this program, a child illustrates the ethnicities of Iran by placing dolls dressed in the attire of these ethnicities on a map, but there was no Arab attire among them. Meanwhile, a number of residents of Ahvaz gathered in front of the Khuzestan state TV building on Wednesday to protest this program. On Thursday, videos of gatherings by residents of Ahvaz were shared on social media, where the sound of tear gas can be heard. Several websites, including HRANA, reported the arrest of some protesters. Based on videos shared on social media, protests also took place in Ahvaz and other cities in Khuzestan on Friday. During these three days of protests, demonstrators chanted slogans in Arabic and Persian, demanding an apology from the state TV officials. Some protesters wore Arab clothing and sang Arabic songs, dancing and celebrating. Similar protests have occurred in Khuzestan in previous years. In 2005, following the publication of a letter that claimed the Iranian government intended to change the demographic composition of Khuzestan, widespread protests erupted in the province, resulting in several deaths and hundreds of injuries. This letter was attributed to Mohammad Ali Abtahi, an advisor to then-President Mohammad Khatami, but Abtahi and government officials denied the existence of such a letter, calling it 'forged.'
Interim Friday Prayer Leader Responds to Ahvaz Protests: The Action of State TV Was Unintentional
Protests erupted in Khuzestan after a state television program neglected to include Arab attire among representations of Iranian ethnicities. The interim Friday prayer leader of Ahvaz responded by urging vigilance against perceived enemy plots, claiming the oversight was unintentional. This incident highlights ongoing ethnic tensions and the sensitivity surrounding Arab identity in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Protests erupted in Khuzestan after a state TV program failed to include Arab attire in a segment about Iranian ethnicities. The interim Friday prayer leader of Ahvaz called for vigilance against enemy plots, claiming the oversight was unintentional.
- Protests were sparked by a segment on the program 'Kolah Ghermezi' aired on April 2.
- Protests involved chanting, wearing Arab clothing, and demands for an apology from state TV.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Khuzestan has a history of ethnic tensions, with Arab citizens often feeling marginalized by the central government. Past protests have sometimes led to violence.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
Translated from the original and edited for English readers. View original source →
Translation confidence: 85%